YOUR CRAZY UNCLE IS DEMANDING TO BE YOUR CHILDREN’S GUARDIAN!

This is the third newsletter in our series discussing the 6 common mistakes parents make when naming guardians for their children.          Mistake #3:  You probably did not exclude anyone who might challenge your decisions or who you know you would never want raising your children.

            Have you thought about excluding someone who might challenge your guardianship decisions or who you are certain you would never want raising your children?  In every family, there is at least one relative that you just try to avoid.  Whether it is crazy Uncle Leo or snobby sister Jennie, you know that under no circumstances would you ever want that person to raise your children.  However, (a very important word here!) if you do not spell out your concerns in writing, who do you think would be the first person to approach the Court and ask to be named guardian of your children?  So, what can you do to prevent this from happening?

            In our comprehensive Children’s Protection Plan, we include a document called “Confidential Exclusion of Guardian”.  This document is meant to see the light of day only if crazy Uncle Leo really does ask to be named guardian of your children.  In this document, you would list anyone who you absolutely would not want to serve as guardian and you will list all of the reasons why you feel that way.  These reasons usually are sufficiently embarrassing enough to the person you have named that they would not want them made known and likely would withdraw their challenge to your choice of guardian.  (For example:  “I am concerned that Uncle Leo’s 20 year history of alcohol abuse, including 2 DUI’s, would compromise my children’s safety.”)

            By planning ahead and addressing all contingences, you can select the right guardians for your children and also exclude the wrong ones. 

            It sounds like a broken record - - - but planning …….. works …… try it!